Rapid advance and intermittent drive mechanism for a time sequence switch



Aprll I1, 1967 s. A. DOTTO 3,313,895

RAPID ADVANCE AND INTERMITTENT DRIVE MECHANISM FOR A TIME SEQUENCESWITCH Filed June 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 2 INVENTOR G /ANN/ A.DOTTO A ORNEY Apnl 11, 1967 G. A. DOTTO 3,313,895

RAPID ADVANCE AND INTERMITTENT DRIVE MECHANISM FOR A TIME SEQUENCESWITCH Filed June 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR G/ANNI A. DOTTOATTORNEY United States Patent 3,313,895 RAPID ADVANCE AND INTERMITTENTDRIVE MECHANISM FOR A TIME SE- QUENCE SWITCH Gianni A. Dotto, Dayton,Ohio, assignor to P. R. Mallory & Co. Inc, Indianapolis, Ind., acorporation of Delaware Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,473 4 Claims.(Cl. 200-38) The present invention relates to a time sequence switch andmore particularly to the means and methods for providing a rapid advanceto a particular cycle and for providing a novel escapement mechanism forstepping the time sequence switch through the programmed timing cycle. I

Industrial and domestic equipment have been used for years in which aseries of controlled operations is made possible by actuation, insequence, of mechanisms providing a series of cyclic movements oreffects. The operations in these equipments, for the most part, arecontrolled by means of a timing arrangement comprising a series of camsrotatable about a common axis, each of said cams being shaped so that onthe rotation about the axis, associated circuits might be activated inaccordance with the setting of each cam. As these equipment have beenmade more modern and more attractive to the buying public, otherfeatures have been added to cooperate with the basic time sequenceswitch. One of these features is a means for a rapid advance to aparticular cycle starting point. Rapid advance means have taken severalconfigurations but usually comprise a driving means consisting of adrive motor and a gear train or some other means-for imparting fast andaccurate rotational motion to the cam shaft of the basic time sequenceswitch. Another feature which has been required for modern time sequenceswitches is a positive and accurate mechanical escapement mechanism forimparting rotational impulses to the camshaft of the time sequenceswitch thereby advancing the time sequence switch through the programmedtiming cycle. These advances of the time sequence switch camshaft mustbe fast in order to open and close the cam follower switches quickly toprevent burning out of the switch contacts. The presentinventionaddresses itself to the problem of providing a rapid advancedrive mechanism that is simple, accurate, has positive stoppingfeatures, has less friction, and can be made cheaper than contemporarydriving mechanisms and a mechanical escapement mechanism that isaccurate, positive and that can be made cheaper than contemporarymechanical escapements.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a simplerapid advance mechanism to advance a time sequence switch to aparticular cycle starting point or to skip a cycle or cycles;

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide a rapidadvance mechanism that has high speed, high t0rque,'and positivestopping features for accurately positioning a time sequence switch at aparticular cycle starting point.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro- 3,313,895Patented Apr. 11, 1967 vide a mechanical escapement mechanism whichimparts accurate rotational impulses to the camshaft of a time sequenceswitch.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanicalescapement mechanism which has a positive means for preventing backwardmotion of the time sequence switch camshaft.

The present invention, in another of its aspects, relates to novelfeatures of the instrumentalities described herein for teaching theprincipal object of the invention and to the novel principles employedin the instrumentalities whether or not these features -and principlesmay be used in the said object and/ or in the said field.

Other objects of the invention and the nature thereof will becomeapparent from the following description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings and wherein like reference numbers describeelements of similar function therein and wherein the scope of theinvention is determined rather from the dependent claims.

For illustrative purposes, the invention will be described inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective drawing of a time sequence switch showing thetimer motor, mechanical escapement mechanism, cam assembly, and drivemotor mounted to a metal mounting plate.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective drawing of the mechanical escapementmechanism showing the gear which is driven by the timer motor, thedriving pinion gear, the escapement spring, the spring retaining washer,

a bushing, drive pins, and the ratchet which is driven by 0nd drivingmeans for advancing the time sequence switch vide a rapid advancemechanism that can be made cheaper than the contemporary gear train typemechanisms.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rapidadvance mechanism with a small number of moving parts. It is believedthat the reliability of any mechanism increases as the number of partsdecreases.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simplemechanical escapement mechanism for stepping a time sequence switchthrough the programmed timing cycle;

Still another object of the present invention is to prothe pins.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the time sequence switch represented bysection line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 showing how the pins on the mechanicalescapement mechanism engage and impart'rotation to the ratchet thatdrives the camshaft of the time sequence switch. Also shown in thefigure is the spring pawl which prevents backwardrotation of theratchet.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the timer switch showing the worm geardrive (for imparting rotational motion to the camshaft of the timerswitch.

FIGURE 5 is a cross section view 5-5 of FIGURE 4 showing how the one-wayclutch is mounted in the camshaft of the timer switch and atfixed, tothe worm gear. 7

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the one-way clutch showing how the clutchimparts rotational motion to the camshaft of the timer switch.

Generally speaking, the present invention comprises a first drivingmeans for advancing the time sequence switch through the programmedtiming cycle and a secto a particular cycle at a rapid rate of speed.The first driving means includes a constant speed motor, hereinafterreferred to as a timer motor, and a linkage for imparting time-drivenrotation to the camshaft of the time sequence switch. The linkagemechanism discussed in the specification is an escapement mechanism or,more specifically, a pin escapement mechanism. The second driving meansincludes a drive motor and a coupling means for imparting rotation tothe camshaft of the time sequence switch. The coupling means in thisspecification is referred to as a gear means, worm gear means, or aplurality of worm and worm gears, and a one-way clutch. The camshaft ofthe time sequence switch supports and rotates control cams which operatea plurality of control switches.

Referring now to the drawing and specifically to FIG- URE l, thecomponent parts of the present invention can tion.

Mounting plate 10, of metallic construction, constitutes a mainstructural member of the time sequence switch assembly. To the firstside of the mounting plate is attached a timcr motor 11, an escapementmechanism 12, and a control cam assembly 13. The timer motor 11 18mounted to the mounting plate 10 by means of a standoff stud 14 and nut15. The escapement mechanism 12 which is the linkage between the timermotor 11 and camshaft 44, is rotatably mounted on a bearing post 16 andaffixed thereon by a hearing bushing 17. The control cam assembly 13 isaffixed to mounting plate 10 by means of standoff studs 18 and machinescrews 19 and contains a plurality of control cams and control switches.

Referring further to the control cam assembly 13 shown in FIGURE 1,' wesee electrical contacts 20 sticking through an insulated board 21, saidelectrical contacts 20 being electrically connected to switch contacts22 which are closed and opened by cam followers 23 which ride in thegrooves 24 of the'cam 25. We also can see a partial View of the drivemotor 26 which is also affixed to the mounting plate 10- by thestandoifstuds 14 and nuts 27.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 we see an exploded perspective view ofescapement mechanism 12 showing the pinion gear 28 on the shaft of timermotor 11 (not shown in FIG. 2) driving a gear 29 which is rotatablyaffixed to the escapement mechanism 12. A spring means, hereinafterreferred to as the escapement spring 30, pin mounting Washer 31, and thebearing bushing 17 are mounted concentric with gear29. Means forengaging and driving a rotatable member, hereinafter referred to as theescapement pins 32, are affixed to the pin mounting washer 31 and extendthrough holes 33 in the escapement spring 30 and through elongated slots34 in gear 29. The holes 33 in the escapement spring 30 are slightlylarger than the escapement pins 32. Also shown in FIGURE 2 is the mannerin which the escapement pins 32 engage the teeth on the rotatablemember, hereinafter referred to as the ratchet 35.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, we see a view of the escapement mechanism 12with the escapement pins 32 engaging the teeth on ratchet 35. Also shownis the 7 amount that the escapement pins 32 have to move to move onetooth of the ratchet 35, said movement being shown by relocated pins 36,and a spring action pawl 37 which prevents backing up of the ratchet 35.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, we see the drive motor 26 mounted to mountingplate 10 with a first worm 38 integrally formed'on the shaft of drivemotor 26 which is 7 not shown for clarity, engaging a first worm gear39, said first worm gear 39 being aflixed to one end of a shaft 40.

A second worm 41 is integrally formed on the other end of shaft 40' andengages a second worm gear 42 which is affixed to a one-way clutch 43which is rotatably mounted on the camshaft 44 of the time sequenceswitch.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, we see a cross section view showing how theone-way clutch 43 is affixed to the second worm gear 42 and mounted oncamshaft 44. This view is added for clarification purposes.

I Referring now to FIGURE 6, we see a top view of th'e one-way clutch 43mounted to the camshaft 44. The oneway clutch action is obtained bythree springs 45 and pins 46 acting in response to rotation of theone-way clutch. If the one-way clutch 43 is rotated counterclockwise,the pins 46 will push against the springs 45 and roll on the shaft 44.If the one-way clutch 43 is rotated clockwise, the pins 46 will beforced by the contour 47 of the oneway clutch 43 to grip the camshaft 44and pr'event rotation. The contour 47 is fixed to cause gripping of theshaft in less than one minute of arc of rotation of the camshaft 44,thereby providing a positive stopping and starting feature.

With the above description in mind, and by making reference to thefigures, the following analysis of operation will serve to convey thedetails of the present invention. As stated earlier the presentinvention provides a novel rapid advance drive and a mechanicalescapement mechanism to cooperate with contemporary time senism can beanalyzed by referring to FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2. In FIGURE 1 we see thetimer motor 11 which is driven at a constant speed by a 60 cycle powersource. The output shaft of timer motor 11 has a pinion gear 28 mountedthereon. The pinion gear 28 drives a gear 29 which is the driven memberof the escapement mechanism 12. As gear 29 rotates, the pin mountingWasher 31, the escapement pins 32, and the flat metallic escapementspring 30, which are mounted with the gear 29 on bearing post 16, 'aredriven so that the escapement pins 32 engage the teeth of ratchet 35. Asthe escapement pins 32 engage the teeth of the ratchet 35 andtheescapement mechanism 12 continues to rotate, rotational energy is storedin the escapement spring 30. When the escapement mechanism 12 is drivento the point where the escapement pins 32 travel to the ends ofelongated holes 34 in the gear 29, the rotation of the gear will impartrotational motion to the ratchet 35. As the ratchet 35 begins to rotate,the stored energy in escapement spring 30 will act to overcome thedynamic friction of ratchet 35 and will impart a snap action rotationalimpulse to the ratchet 35. This snap 'action is required in atimerswitch to prevent burning up of switch contacts which will resultif the switches are opened and closed slowly. Since the timer motor isrotating at a constant speed, the gear 29 will rotate at a constantspeed and thereby rotate the escapement spring 30 and escapement pins 32at a constant speed. In the illustration shown, there are two escapementpins 32 which will engage teeth on ratchet 35 for every revolution ofthe escapement mechanism 12. Thus there are-two accurately timedrotational impulses imparted to the ratchet 35 for every revolution ofthe escapement mechanism 12. Specific details of the assembly of theescapement mechanism 12 which provide the.

escapement action can be seen in FIGURE 2. The gear 29, escapementspring 30, pin mounting washer 31, and the bearing bushing 17 are allrotatably mounted on bearing post 16. The pin mounting washer 31 canrotate independently of the gear 29- within the boundaries establishedby the movement of the escapement pins 32 Within the elongated slots 34.The escapement spring 32, rotate independently of the gear 29 within theboundaries established by the elongated slots 34 in gear 29, rotationalenergy is stored in the escapement spring 30 because it is afiixed toboth the gear 29 and the pin mounting washer 31.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, we see a spring action pawl 37 which preventsbackward movement of ratchet 35 and provides 'a degree of friction whichwill not be overcome until the escapement pins 32 hit the end ofelongated slots 34 in gear 29. This action is facilitated by the shapeof the teeth of ratchet 35.

The operation of the rapid advance mechanism can be analyzed byreferring to FIGURE 4. The drive motor 26 has a first worm 38 on therotor shaft of said drive cycle selection means, the firm worm 38 drivesa first worm gear 39 on shaft 40. The speed reduction obtained '44 androtates the time sequence switch control cam assembly 13. The controlcam assembly 13 will continue to rotate until the cycle selection meansde-energizes the drive motor 26.

The time sequence switch with the novel rapid advance mechanism andmechanical escapement of the present invention, as hereinbeforedescribed in one of its embodiments, is merely illustrative and notexhaustive in scope. Since many widely different embodiments of theinvention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawing shall be interposed as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a time sequence switch for accomplishing a plurality of timingsequences, a first driving means for ad vancing said time sequenceswitch through a programmed timing cycle and a second driving means foradvancing said time sequence switch to a particular cycle at a rapidrate of speed, said first driving means comprising a constant speedmotor, said constant speed motor driving a gear, said gear impartingrotational motion to an escapement mechanism, a flat metallic springhaving a plurality of ends extending from the main body of said spring,each of said ends being affixed to the periphery of said gear, said mainbody of said spring being rotatably affixed to a pin means for engagingteeth of a ratchet, said pin means consisting of a plurality of pinsafiixed to a mounting plate, said plurality of pins extending throughelongated slots in said gear, said elongated slots limiting the travelof said pins With respect to said gear, said escapement mechanismimparting rotational motion to said ratchet when said gear rotates saidescapement mechanism, thereby deflecting said ends of said spring tostore rotational energy in said spring, said spring releasing saidrotational energy when said pins hit the end of said elongated slot,thereby imparting rotational motion to said ratchet, said ratchetimparting rotational motion to a camshaft of said time sequence switch,said camshaft supporting and rotating control cams of said time sequenceswitch, said control cams operating a plurality of control switches,said second driving means comprising a drive motor, a first wormintegrally formed on the rotor shaft of said drive motor, said firstworm engaging and driving a first worm gear, a second worm mounted on acommon shaft with said first worm gear and rotatably affixed to saidfirst worm gear, said second worm driving a second worm gear, a one-wayclutch mounted on said camshaft of said time sequence switch, saidsecond worm gear imparting rotational motion to said camshaft throughsaid one-way clutch.

2. In a time sequence switch for accomplishing a plurality of timingsequences, a'first driving means for advancing said time sequence switchthrough a programmed timing cycle and a second driving means foradvancing said time sequence switch to a particular cycle at a rapidrate of speed, said first driving means comprising a constant speedmotor, said constant speed motor driving a gear, said gear impartingrotational motion to an escapement mechanism, a spring means resilientlyconnecting said gear to a pin means, said pin means engaging teeth of aratchet, said pin means consisting of a plurality of pins affixed to amounting plate said plurality of pins extending through elongated slotsin said gear, said elongated slots limiting the travel of said pins withrespect to said gear, said escapement mechanism imparting rotationalmotion to said ratchet when said gear rotates said escapement mechanism,thereby deflecting said ends of said spring to store rotational energyin said spring, said spring releasing said rotational energy when saidpins hit the end of said elongated slot, thereby imparting rotationalmotion to said ratchet, said ratchet imparting rotational motion to acamshaft of said time sequence switch, said camshaft supporting androtating control cams of said time sequence switch, said control camsoperating a plurality of control switches, said second driving meanscomprising a drive motor; said drive motor driving a plurality, of wormand worm gears, said plurality of worm and worm gears impartingrotational motion to said camshaft through one-way clutch means.

3. In a time sequence switch for accomplishing a plurality of timingsequences, a first driving means for advancing said time sequence switchthrough a programmed timing cycle and a second driving means foradvancing said time sequence switch to a particular cycle at a rapidrate of speed, said first driving means comprising a constant speedmotor, said constant speed motor driving a gear, said gear impartingrotational motion to an escapement mechanism, a spring mean resilientlyconnecting said gear to a pin means, said pin means engaging teeth of aratchet, said pin means consisting of a plurality of pins extendingthrough elongated slots in said gear, said elongated slots limiting thetravel of said pins with respect to said gear, said escapement mechanismimparting rotational motion to said ratchet when said gear rotates saidescapement mechanism, thereby deflecting said ends of said spring tostore rotational energy in said spring, said spring releasing saidrotational energy when said pins hit the end of said elongated slots,thereby imparting rotational motion to said ratchet, said ratchetimparting rotational motion to a camshaft of said time sequence switch,said camshaft supporting and rotating control cams of said time sequenceswitch, said control cams operating a plurality of control switches,said second driving means comprising a drive motor, said drive motordriving a plurality of worm and worm gears, a one-way clutch couplingsaid plurality of worm and worm gears with said camshaft, said drivemotor driving said plurality of worm and worm gears and said one-wayclutch, thereby imparting rotational motion to said camshaft.

4. In a time sequence switch for accomplishing a plurality of timingsequences, a first driving means for ad vancing said time sequenceswitch through a programmed timing cycle and a second driving means foradvancing said time sequence switch to a particular cycle at a rapidrate of speed, said first driving means comprising a constant speedmotor, said constant speed motor driving a gear, said gear impartingrotational motion to said escapement mechanism, a flat metallic springhaving a plurality of ends extending from the main body of said spring,each of said ends being aflixed to the periphery of said gear, said mainbody of said spring being rotatably afiixed to a pin mounting plate,said pin mounting plate and said gear being rotatably mounted on acommon shaft and resiliently connected by said spring, a plurality ofpins affixed to said pin mounting plate and extending through elongatedslots in said gear, said elongated slots limiting the travel of saidpins and said pin mounting plate with respect to said gear, said pinsengaging teeth of a ratchet being driven by said escapement mechanism,said escapement mechanism imparting rotational motion to said ratchetwhen said gear rotates said escapement mechanism, thereby deflectingsaid ends of said spring to store rotational energy in said spring, saidspringreleasing said rotational energy when said pins hit the end ofsaid elongated slot, thereby, imparting rotational motion to saidratchet, said ratchet imparting rotational motion to a camshaft of saidtime sequence switch, said camshaft supporting and rotating control camsof said time sequence switch, said second driving means comprising adrive motor, a first Worm integrally formed on the rotor shaft of saiddrive motor, said first worm engaging and driving a first worm gear, asecond worm mounted on a common shaft 5 with said first Worm gear androtatabiy afiixed to said first worm gear, said second worm driving asecond Worm gear, a one-way clutch mounted on said camshaft of said timesequence switch, said second worm gear imparting rotational motion tosaid camshaft through said one-way 1 clutch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Bennett 20()38 XSisson 20038 Thornbery 307--141.4 Hauser 200-38 Dotto 20038 X Bowman307141.4

O BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

G. MAIER, H. E. SPRINGBORN, Assistant Examiners.

2. IN A TIME SEQUENCE SWITCH FOR ACCOMPLISHING A PLURALITY OF TIMINGSEQUENCES, A FIRST DRIVING MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID TIME SEQUENCE SWITCHTHROUGH A PROGRAMMED TIMING CYCLE AND A SECOND DRIVING MEANS FORADVANCING SAID TIME SEQUENCE SWITCH TO A PARTICULAR CYCLE AT A RAPIDRATE OF SPEED, SAID FIRST DRIVING MEANS COMPRISING A CONSTANT SPEEDMOTOR, SAID CONSTANT SPEED MOTOR DRIVING A GEAR, SAID GEAR IMPARTINGROTATIONAL MOTION TO AN ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM, A SPRING MEANS RESILIENTLYCONNECTING SAID GEAR TO A PIN MEANS, SAID PIN MEANS ENGAGING TEETH OF ARATCHET, SAID PIN MEANS CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF PINS AFFIXED TO AMOUNTING PLATE SAID PLURALITY OF PINS EXTENDING THROUGH ELONGATED SLOTSIN SAID GEAR, SAID ELONGATED SLOTS LIMITING THE TRAVEL OF SAID PINS WITHRESPECT TO SAID GEAR, SAID ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM IMPARTING ROTATIONALMOTION TO SAID RATCHET WHEN SAID GEAR ROTATES SAID ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM,THEREBY DEFLECTING SAID ENDS OF SAID SPRING TO STORE ROTATIONAL ENERGYIN SAID SPRING, SAID SPRING RELEASING SAID ROTATIONAL ENERGY WHEN SAIDPINS HIT THE END OF SAID ELONGATED SLOT, THEREBY IMPARTING ROTATIONALMOTION TO SAID RATCHET, SAID RATCHET IMPARTING ROTATIONAL MOTION TO ACAMSHAFT OF SAID TIME SEQUENCE SWITCH, SAID CAMSHAFT SUPPORTING ANDROTATING CONTROL CAMS OF SAID TIME SEQUENCE SWITCH, SAID CONTROL CAMSOPERATING A PLURALITY OF CONTROL SWITCHES, SAID SECOND DRIVING MEANSCOMPRISING A DRIVE MOTOR; SAID DRIVE MOTOR DRIVING A PLURALITY OF WORMAND WORM GEARS, SAID PLURALITY OF WORM AND WORM GEARS IMPARTINGROTATIONAL MOTION TO SAID CAMSHAFT THROUGH ONE-WAY CLUTCH MEANS.